Researchers In Moscow Are baffled By What Stray Dogs In Moscow Have Learned To Do.

A curious thing has happened on the streets of Moscow—Something that has scientists baffled. Stray dogs have learned to ride the public transit system in order to move about town, and in some cases, it’s to find the most productive hunting ground, or even places that they’re more apt to receive free handouts from humans. Researchers call this phenomenon “flexible open-ended reasoning.” It’s no wonder we humans have learned to coexist, cohabitate, and perhaps even thrive, with our smart four-legged friends.

Anyone who ever doubted the intelligence and resourcefulness of Man’s Best Friend need only take a look at the Russian capital of Moscow to see the truth. In addition to being home to the Kremlin, Moscow houses upwards of 35,000 stray dogs.

But it’s what these dogs have learned to do that’s truly remarkable… and it’s baffling animal researchers.

“In Moscow, there are all sorts of stray dogs, but… there are no stupid dogs,” Dr. Andrey Poyarkov told ABC. That must be true, as the dogs of Moscow’s streets have learned to… ride public transit.

For commuters in the Russian capital, it isn’t all that uncommon to share a seat with a dog.

The dogs have mastered the massive subway system, hustle and bustle included, and use it to travel to the most fertile “hunting” ground in the center of the city.

Researchers say that the dog’s use of the transit system is evidence of canis familiaris‘ possession of what we call flexible open-ended reasoning and conscious thought.

The dogs have also been seen obeying traffic signals and employing a variety of tactics to procure food from humans.